Tiny particles increase in air with ethanol-to-gasoline switch

The concentration of ultrafine particles less than 50 nanometers in diameter rose by one-third in the air of São Paulo, Brazil, when higher ethanol prices induced drivers to switch from ethanol to gasoline, according to a new study. The research team also found when drivers switched back to ethanol because prices had gone down, the concentration of ultrafine particles also went down.

The concentration of ultrafine particles less than 50 nanometers in diameter rose by one-third in the air of São Paulo, Brazil, when higher ethanol prices induced drivers to switch from ethanol to gasoline, according to a new study. The research team also found when drivers switched back to ethanol because prices had gone down, the concentration of ultrafine particles also went down.